IMS2026 Schedule

The next generation of wireless connectivity network will incorporate increasing intelligence to efficiently and reliably address emerging applications like XR, teleporting, low latency links for and among automated vehicles. At the heart of this future intelligent network, there’ll be hardware based on novel technologies and materials that can enable high data throughput and energy-efficient sustainable connectivity.
This workshop will highlight examples of some of the R&D activities ongoing in the industry in terms of emerging materials and technologies covering 3 key aspects a) engineered substrate b) innovative RF technologies and c) wafer-scale packaging with heterogeneous integration.

Phased Array Antennas (PAAs) are crucial in satellite communications, where beamforming plays a vital role. Circular Polarization (CP) is widely used in satellite applications, requiring an axial ratio (AR) <3 dB, wide frequency range, and scanning angle.
This workshop will discuss efficient evaluation of CP performance using PAAs, including influential factors like phase and gain variations. The PAA under test will be the Fujikura FutureAccessTM Phased Array Antenna Module (PAAM) and we will report on the importance of accurate Over-The-Air (OTA) testing and demonstrate CP performance using Rohde & Schwarz equipment.

This technical session explores the evolving demands of next-generation communication, radar, imaging, and SATCOM applications. The session will address the challenges for achieving high output power, efficiency, linearity, bandwidth, and robust performance. The first paper presents a 10–40GHz stacked push-pull PA that enhances both bandwidth and linearity through the harmonic superposition of drain-source waveforms. The second paper focuses on a V-band PA featuring a dual-mode slotline-based series-parallel combiner. The third paper introduces a D-band Doherty PA incorporating a Guanella transformer and adaptive bias. The fourth paper presents a process robust K-band balanced PA with a current-mode adaptive bias circuit. The final paper demonstrates a 5G phased-array TX with load compensating Doherty PA.

This session consists of five papers on advanced techniques for high-performance oscillators operating at RF frequencies. The first paper introduces an inverse-class-F VCO utilizing a distributed dual-mode resonator (DMR) instead of a transformer-based tank, enhancing high-Q performance at both fundamental and second harmonic frequencies while suppressing noise conversion and minimizing detrimental third harmonic components. The second paper introduces a quad-core quad-mode VCO utilizing a pure magnetic-coupling technique and a fully symmetrical topology, featuring a centrosymmetric transformer with four coupled inductors and an embedded switched inductor to enable quad-mode operation without frequency tuning range degradation. The third paper presents a series resonance oscillator with bidirectional inductive-mode pulling, enabling ultra-low phase noise and wide tuning range by optimizing mode-switching connections, introducing a balanced-slope NMOS inverter for ripple minimization, and ensuring reliable frequency expansion without added parasitic effects. The fourth paper introduces a coupling-canceling common-mode resonance expansion technique using a tail 8-shaped inductor and staggered tap inductors to enhance wideband common-mode impedance, effectively reducing flicker phase noise without requiring manual tuning. The last paper introduces a multi-tap transformer-based quad-core dual-mode VCO that leverages enhanced electromagnetic mixed-coupling and harmonic-free-like techniques to achieve wideband flicker noise suppression while employing orthogonally stacked dual-core transformers and mode switches to enable a wide frequency tuning range.

This session starts with a low-power analog-mixed-signal machine-learning classifier for wireless signals. This is followed by a fast beam-forming system and a silicon-photonic driver. Finally, a UWB SoC for next-generation ranging and a biomedical sensor are presented.

This session highlights innovations and techniques in integrated mm-wave and sub-THz hardware for advanced radar and sensing applications.

This session covers innovations in high-speed wired and wireless links. The first paper presents 3-level ASK modulator for a 15Gb/s wired link. The final 3 papers present wireless communication from an efficient V-bank transmitter to receiver-assisted transmitter linearization and a joint communication and sensing platform.

This session discusses practical realizations of state-of-the-art microwave photonics systems and integrated circuits. The session begins with a multi-static, multi-band photonics MIMO radar. An ultra-low phase noise opto-electronic frequency synthesizer is covered next followed by a multi-channel microwave photonic transmitter for RoF applications. The session is concluded with two papers discussing integrated photonic circuits.

This session focuses on recent advances in Doherty power amplifiers. This load modulation technology is pushed to higher frequencies above 7GHz, higher output power, extended power back-off range, and unprecedented instantaneous bandwidth for emerging wireless infrastructure.

This session covers advances in microwave technologies related to quantum computing. The session begins with two papers relevant to quantum computing readout. First a cryo-CMOS single-sideband upconverter is presented for qubit readout waveform generation and then the systematic design of parametric amplifiers using electromagnetic- and schematic-level simulations is described. Next, a wideband cryogenic VCO for use in qubit control/measurement systems is presented. This is followed by a description of research in cryogenic RF-over-fiber links. Finally, the session concludes with the presentation of a high-coherence architecture for packaging superconducting quantum processors.

In this session, various novel Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems for smart cities and biomedical applications will be highlighted, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, beam-steering, and miniaturized design. Featured contributions include innovations such as broad-beam equiconvex lens-integrated mm-wave harvester for 5G-powered environments, time-multiplexed beam-steering antenna array for programmable RF powering of CMOS brain implants, and supply voltage modulation method to address efficiency degradation. Additional advances include flexible rectennas for ambient RF energy harvesting in IoT applications and single-ended capacitive WPT circuit for artificial retina systems. Collectively, these breakthroughs pave the way for sustainable and efficient WPT solutions across diverse applications.

Next-generation communication and radar systems require wide bandwidth signals to support high data rates and enhanced resolution.  Low phase noise systems are critical in high-QAM rate and OFDM signals to minimize bit error rate (BER) and to maintain signal integrity.  Digitally controlled reference oscillators provide excellent integrated jitter performance for high-end systems with programming flexibility to address different system configurations.  The solution highlights a temperature-controlled reference oscillator (TCXO) for a PLL/VCO integrated into a microwave up/down converter.  The presentation highlights the composite Error Vector Magnitude (EVM%) performance upconverting a 5GNR signal up to 26 GHz with various sub-carrier spacings.

Precision Low Phase Noise Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators with output frequencies from 10 to 100 MHz are the key reference sources for modern RF equipment. Phase noise, aging and frequency stability vs. temperature are the main parameters of OCXO to ensure the quality of equipment. But another important parameters like dynamic temperature sensitivity, vibration sensitivity (not only for moving vehicles) are being ignored mistakenly by the developers. What parameters may be important for? What are the phase noise limit for oscillators? What type of crystals we use and how they influence the oscillator’s parameters?

Frequency hopping between multiple LO frequencies find application in downconverter and upconverter chain where switching time expected is very low. Frequency Switching time in PLL based synthesizers containing integrated VCOs/Multipliers is dominated by VCO/Multiplier calibration time. During the calibration time, output frequency can vary a lot, which is undesired. Proposed FULL ASSIST solution in LMX26xx reduces calibration time to zero by forcing the settings related to frequency switch, all at one go using double buffering registers and thus avoids cycle slipping. With this feature in LMX26xx, overall lock time depends only on minimal register writes and analog loop settling.

This workshop explores recent developments in design, analysis, and implementation workflows driven by electromagnetic (EM)/thermal analysis, RF circuit/antenna co-simulation, and phased array synthesis addressing hardware-validated silicon-to-antenna co-design for emerging 5G applications at 48GHz, the n262 band. A link budget analysis of FEM in a system simulator determines block specifications catering to early package, PCB floorplanning, and thermal challenges. Co-design of FEM with packaged antenna is implemented on Samsung’s 14nm FinFeT process, including low-power LNAs and reliable p-FinFET PAs. The presented unified chip, package, PCB co-design methodology highlights importance of heterogeneously integrated workflows for first-pass silicon success at advanced mmWave.

3D Heterogeneous Integration (3DHI) promises to bring the ‘holy grail’ of technology advancements: best of breed ICs, dense packaging, and reconfigurable, vendor-agnostic ‘plug and play’ solutions. But how will you choose the right ICs, interposers, and packages, and how will you actually design these complex systems with commercial EDA tools? Participants will learn about the latest trends in heterogeneous integration, technologies specifically designed to address dense packaging of these components, and finally will walk through a demonstration of an EDA tool flow for analysis of electrical, EM, and thermal behavior of a complete 3DHI assembly for phased array applications.

This session covers recent developments, advanced design techniques, and methodologies in high performance RF and mm-wave SiGe PAs. The first paper introduces a new design methodology for algorithmic inverse design and optimization of multi-stage power-combined mm-wave PAs. The second paper demonstrates the first silicon-based PA providing multiple watts of power at Ka-band. The next paper is a 17–30GHz SiGe common-collector common-base PA with enhanced large-signal stability for SATCOM application. The fourth paper presents an efficient Q-band balanced PA designed using a two-tone load-pull optimization technique. The last paper demonstrates a compact, reconfigurable dual-band 5/6GHz SiGe PA for Wi-Fi 6E application.

This session presents integrated systems and techniques introducing breakthroughs in energy efficiency, accuracy and sensitivity of mm-wave radars and sensors. This includes precision sub-THz near field sensors, an interference cancellation technique for FMCW radars, and an energy-efficient phase-modulated radar SoC for joint radar and communication applications.

Heterogeneous integration is one of the most interesting technology areas that is quickly finding its place in RF and mm-wave applications. This session consists of four papers describing circuits and systems implemented by integrating chips fabricated in different semiconductor technologies into one solution platform. The fifth paper describes a single source impedance thermal noise measurement technique. The session starts with the presentation of a heterogeneously integrated power amplifier module using BiCMOS and RF SOI CMOS chips. The second paper presents integration of GaN circulator with RF SOI voltage boosted clock generation IC. The next paper describes a GaN amplifier embedded in a glass substrate. The fourth paper presents the 3D-integration platform for scaled GaN-on-Si dielets with Intel 16 Si CMOS. The final paper described a formalism for determining thermal noise parameters for MOSFET transistors that requires only single source impedance measurements.

This session presents recent developments in mm-wave wireless systems for sensing and communication. Advanced techniques for MIMO radar, three-dimensional radar imaging, radar networks, and joint sensing and communication are presented through six detailed presentations.

This session focuses on MHz-to-THz technology for human body communication and other sensing applications. The keynote discusses field interactions in the human body and the second paper demonstrates the human body power transfer. A novel technique to improve underwater communication is presented in the fourth paper and the session concludes using a W-band FMCW radar for smart smoke detection.

This session discusses photonically enabled THz sources, detectors, novel integration techniques as well as systems for applications ranging from communication to sensing.

This session includes several transmit components with over 10W of output power, including a decade-bandwidth 0.2–2GHz load-modulated balanced amplifier, several integrated Doherty PA modules and an E-mode dual-gate SPDT switch.

This session showcases advances in the intersection between AI and RF systems. Highlights include AI-enabled device-level modeling and characterization, power amplifier digital predistortion, and system-level transceiver optimization.

This session delves into cutting-edge innovations in RF rectifier design, showcasing advances that push the boundaries of efficiency, dynamic range, and compact integration for Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems. Presentations will explore novel techniques such as impedance splitting, compression networks, harmonic suppression, and resonance enhancements to achieve superior RF-to-DC conversion efficiencies. Join us to explore how these developments enable scalable, high-performance WPT solutions for emerging applications.

EVM and ACLR are fundamental to all terrestrial wireless communication systems. However, over-the-air testing - common in phased array applications and others - raises a key question: are test results limited by the test system or the antenna's performance? This challenge is particularly pronounced in systems with a high number of elements, such as SATCOM phased arrays. This MicroApps seminar provides a clear answer, presenting practical measurement-based solutions for direct and indirect far-field testing, illustrated with real-world examples using advanced vector signal analysis and generation equipment.

Frequency hopping across wide frequency range find application in multiple systems used in electronic warfare, defense radio, and communications where switching time expected is very low. The Link-16 network used by NATO for transferring real-time tactical information requires frequency hopping under 13 µs. Frequency Switching time in PLL based synthesizers containing integrated VCOs is dominated by VCO calibration time which can go as high as 200 us depending on the capacitor bank in VCOs. Proposed instant calibration feature in LMX2820 reduces the VCO calibration time to <5 us across the wideband frequency range from 45 MHz to 22.6 GHz.

Millimeter wave (mmWave) technology holds unparalleled potential to revolutionize industries ranging from telecommunications to advanced sensing. Yet, its full promise remains constrained by barriers in cost, expertise, and accessibility. Historically, mmWave has been considered impossible to scale, but Eravant has developed practical solutions to overcome this challenge. In this keynote, Wendy Shu, CEO of Eravant, will explore how scaling organizations and lowering barriers are critical to achieving commercial viability and unlocking mmWave's vast applications. Drawing on Eravant's approach to democratizing mmWave across catalog (COTS), custom solutions, test & measurement, and services, Wendy will share innovative strategies for enabling broader participation by engineers, scientists, and employees alike. She will also call on industry leaders to think about building companies where people from diverse backgrounds and experience levels can contribute meaningfully, so we can fully realize the transformative potential of mmWave technology.

In this panel, we will discuss what it takes to found, grow and sustain a successful business in the RF industry. We will focus not only on the founding and funding of fledgling ideas, but also on the winning (and losing) strategies to build successful, financially healthy businesses that are built for sustained growth over many years and decades. The panelists have all led and advised some of the most iconic and successful RF companies over the past 30 years and will share their secrets and wisdom to generate long-term prosperity in this small but dynamic industry.

Confident in the accuracy of your Gain to Noise Temperature (G/T) measurements for large phased arrays? Traditional calculation-based methods can be error-prone and cumbersome. Typically, accurate G/T values require combining datasheet analysis, testing, simulation, calibration, and validation. This MicroApps seminar introduces a measurement-based approach that eliminates calculations, ensuring reliable G/T measurements for complex phased arrays. Simplify your workflow, boost accuracy, and gain confidence in your results with this innovative method.

The past few years have arguably seen a decrease in transformational or disruptive discoveries reported in radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) papers and publications. Does this indicate that RFIC design has reached its maturity, or does it instead suggest a shift of innovations in emerging areas across the boundary of RFIC design, such as the heterogeneous integration of silicon, antennas, and processors using advanced packaging? If so, what should our community look for in publications and what would be considered “publishable work”? Are universities and research institutions addressing the most compelling challenges? And what has been the role of the funding agencies in promoting fundamental research? Our panel of experts, with the audience’s participation, will attempt to answer these questions and diagnose the trends seen in RFIC publications and in the field in general.

The past few years have arguably seen a decrease in transformational or disruptive discoveries reported in radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) papers and publications. Does this indicate that RFIC design has reached its maturity, or does it instead suggest a shift of innovations in emerging areas across the boundary of RFIC design, such as the heterogeneous integration of silicon, antennas, and processors using advanced packaging? If so, what should our community look for in publications and what would be considered “publishable work”? Are universities and research institutions addressing the most compelling challenges? And what has been the role of the funding agencies in promoting fundamental research? Our panel of experts, with the audience’s participation, will attempt to answer these questions and diagnose the trends seen in RFIC publications and in the field in general.

Characterizing phased arrays demands numerous radiation pattern measurements to ensure uniform, fast, and accurate beam steering with minimal scan loss and side-lobe levels. Additional tests for tapering, null steering, and dual-polarization control further increase the burden. Discover how to drastically reduce measurement time from minutes to seconds, enabling more comprehensive phased array testing. Our seminar demonstrates a game-changing approach to rapid radiation pattern measurement, transforming your testing workflow.

Load pull is a common technique to understand the behavior of RF frontends with varying conditions and matchings in the target application, optimize the DUT or create accurate models. RF front ends often drive signals into antennas which are nominal 50 Ohm, but in reality far off. As PA performance changes with different impedances, the only way to ensure proper performance is to test with the target signals and varying impedances, thus wideband loadpull. A fast and cost-efficient solution will be discussed in this session.

D band and G band are still the two most promising bands for 6G research area. The initial research was all related to single ended devices - amplifiers, filters, mixers etc. However, in the recent times the differential device testing and characterization of the devices has become important. The fundamental devices needs to be characterized from DC to highest frequency possible (KHz range to 200+GHz). A Vector Network analyzer with true differential stimulus and Differential probes is required for device characterization and testing. Measurements such a differential IMD, Gain, Gain compression, Noise figure are crucial measurements.

Developments in coaxial connector design have now extended the available frequency range for systems relying on the TEM mode to beyond 200 GHz, historically the domain of waveguides. This makes it possible to compare measurements made using probes employing these connectors with the previous state of the art probes using waveguides. This talk will present these results and test methodologies and discuss benefits accruing from using a single-sweep system, besides the obvious reduction in test time and inventory cost from not having to maintain stock of several banded devices.

New advances in Vector Network implementations allow faster sweep times with increased sensitivity to enable faster and more accurate S parameter measurements. This is of special interest in the world of growing number of supported frequency bands and thus more filter paths in modern mobile phones. Adding more filter paths means more expensive validation. Reducing the test time is a major strike back to cut test cost without sacrificing sensitivity and measurement uncertainty.

Development in 5G/6G technologies require precise characterization of the complex permittivity of materials in the microwave and millimeter wave spectra, addressing various applications, e.g. microwave 5G bands, 77-GHz automotive radars, D- and G-band high-speed communication systems. Cavity and dielectric resonator devices supporting material characterization in 1-20GHz range will be presented at this seminar altogether with a family of Fabry-Perot open resonators enabling wideband measurements of solid dielectrics in the 15-220 GHz range. Measurement examples will feature PCB substrates, ultra-thin foils, automotive materials, in-plane anisotropic materials, with the measurement inaccuracy as low as <0.5% (<2%) for the dielectric constant (loss tangent)

IC geometries continue to shrink, but raising manufacturing cost and process limitations lead designers to consider innovative and unique packaging and die stacking configurations to satisfy growing system requirements. Join our workshop to see how stacked die, 2 1/2D, and 3D designs can be configured and integrated in Heterogeneous Integration or Multi-Chip Modules. See how simulation and analysis tools are used in an integrated fashion to tune and center the system under process corners and manufacturing tolerances with EM and Thermal analysis effects. All within a design flow with LVS and DRC capabilities leading to successful manufacturing.

This session covers high performance PLL and frequency multiplier techniques. The first paper presents a high performance D-band double-sampling PLL with 35.1fs jitter. The second paper demonstrates a THz synthesizer using 85GHz CP-PLL and frequency quadrupler with optimal impedance matching technique. The session also includes a digital background calibration LMS technique for a robust wide-band frequency tripler. The fourth paper presents an injection locked frequency tripler with an amplitude detection method to enhance frequency tracking. Lastly, a compact W-band differential doubler is presented with high conversion gain and >36dBc fundamental rejection ratio.

The focus of this session is to introduce innovative D-band circuits and systems in the sensing and communication domains. We start with a 129–148GHz radar transceiver achieving broadband performance through the TL-MCR concept followed by a 169GHz sparse chirp-stitched radar system in 40nm CMOS with an impressive range resolution of 1mm. The third paper is a >27% tuning range sub-sampling PLL in 28nm CMOS. A novel switching mechanism for BPSK modulation for backscattering application is reported in the fourth paper. We close the session with a D-band TRX chipset with >40dB IRR and very low-loss 4-way power combiner built using a novel enhanced magnetic coupling cavity with transmission line (EMCC-TL).

High-speed circuits are essential to the efficient control and driving of upcoming photonic and quantum systems. This session features a diverse set of papers for such applications. The first paper covers a widely reconfigurable temperature-scalable cryogenic PLL. The second paper covers a low-power correlator targeting communications and compute-in-memory applications. Papers 3 and 4 cover ultra-high-speed drivers for photonic transceivers, designed in FD-SOI CMOS and SiGe BiCMOS respectively. The final paper covers a set of integrated circuits designed in GaAs as an oscilloscope front-end system.

This scientific session will delve into cutting-edge technologies and methodologies in biomedical applications, focusing on devices and systems for medical imaging and diagnostics. Key topics will include the latest advances in magnetic resonance imaging, which enhance imaging resolution and improve patient experience; dielectric spectroscopy for non-invasive tissue characterization; advanced thermometry techniques that enable precise temperature monitoring in therapeutic environments; and the development of resonant microwave biosensors for rapid and sensitive biomolecular detection. We will explore innovative concepts that bridge engineering and medicine, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at improving patient outcomes and advancing healthcare technologies.

This session presents five cutting-edge papers showcasing recent advances in sub-THz and mm-wave phased array systems. The first paper introduces a 150GHz AiP phased array module, highlighting its innovative design and performance. The second paper explores a 28GHz monolithic heterogeneous integrated GaN and Si beamformer, emphasizing its integration. The third paper discusses a 4x4 Butler matrix-based switched beamformer, detailing its architecture and application. The fourth paper presents a novel body proximity detection technique utilizing reflections from a mm-wave phased array, demonstrating its potential in various applications. The final paper describes linearization techniques for a dual-band near-field probing approach, showcasing significant improvements in performance.

Al Katz passed away on the morning of June 20, 2024, the day he had been scheduled to give a presentation at IMS'24. Today we remember Al Katz and his work on analog linearization. The session will begin with recollections by his widow Sally. Amateur radio was an important factor in Al's becoming an engineer, so we will next present his accomplishments as a radio amateur. Al's work on linearization led to the formation and growth of the Linearizer Technology Company, which will be the next topic of discussion. The fourth segment provides an overview of analog linearization and the current state-of-the-art. Finally, members of the audience will be encouraged to give their recollections of Al Katz.

This session explores new approaches for sub-THz and THz signal generation, spanning diverse technologies and architectures. The first paper presents a 4–240GHz InP variable-gain amplifier employing an analog-controlled input attenuation network for versatile performance tuning. Next, a 4–420GHz distributed amplifier MMIC in 20nm InGaAs-on-Si HEMT technology achieves 11±2dB of gain. A 280GHz sub-harmonic injection-locked oscillator in 45nm CMOS PD SOI demonstrates robust frequency generation. Finally, a 300GHz-band single-balanced resistive mixer module in 60nm InP HEMT features LO leakage suppression. Collectively, these designs pave the way for next-generation THz communication systems.

This session contains 5 papers on analog predistortion focusing on very high frequency, MIMO systems, and circuit techniques including phase-cancellation, Doherty and Darlington power amplifier architectures.

This session explores the integration of wireless sensors, RF selective surfaces, and innovative power harvesting techniques in the design of energy-efficient microwave and RF sensors.

The ability to understand the thermal impact on performance has become a necessity for today’s complex electronic designs. Having an integrated thermal analysis tool within a multiphysics system design flow proves to be very beneficial for determining overall performance and becomes necessary to maintain design flow synchronization. This paper demonstrates the capabilities of the Cadence Celsius Thermal Solver, an electrothermal co-simulation solution that provides analysis and design insights to detect and mitigate thermal issues early in the design cycle. Simulations are validated with measurements on devices designed for thermal imaging and current density performance.

This session explores performance advances in GaN MMIC power amplifiers applied to advanced radar technology, linear power Satcom uplinks, 5G and wideband power amplifier applications. It discusses GaN on SiC MMIC power attributes that are critical to improving and offering more compelling next-generation products for 5G, Aerospace & Defense and SatCom applications. Different types of beamforming architectures along with tradeoffs will be covered. For Space applications, RF Solutions from COTS to Rad Hard, plastic to hermetically sealed packages will be discussed.

Modern vehicles are equipped with increasing communication functions and sensors, resulting in an increase of jamming signals in the vicinity of the GNSS reception band. These jamming signals cannot always be removed by simple filters. High linearity of a GNSS Wideband LNA can help improve jamming tolerance. But there is a tradeoff - high linearity can contribute to higher current consumption. Nisshinbo added a linearity compensation circuit to our Wideband LNA to keep the current consumption low at normal operation and to improve linearity during high EMI/RFI conditions.  This method can simplify the antenna-mounted filter in GNSS automotive antenna applications.

The design and measurement results of a 9W MMIC power amplifier, covering the 7.1-8.5GHz frequency range, is described. The PA was fabricated on a mature 0.25um GaAs optically-defined gate process with Enhanced Moisture Ruggedness layer. The PA is assembled in a low-cost 6x6mm QFN package and features integrated ESD protection. In CW mode, the amplifier exhibits 28dB of linear gain and 39.5dBm of saturated output power, with 34% associated efficiency. Optimal thermal design allows for operation up to 105°C. State-of-the-art performance, enhanced reliability, in conjunction with low-cost technologies, make this PA a very attractive option for C/X band communication systems.

Noise Power Ratio is a measure of a power amplifier’s distortion. It is commonly used to characterize power amplifiers for space systems although not limited to this. This presentation goes over key things to consider when simulating NPR as well as how to analyze results to make design decisions.

LNAs (Low Noise Amplifiers) are used to improve receive sensitivity and error rate, issues that are related to NF (Noise Figure). To improve NF, Nisshinbo has been working to shorten the FET gate length (Lg) for LNAs produced in our in-house GaAs Fab.  We also optimized the gate structure by lowering gate resistance (Rg) and gate-source capacitance (Cgs) to achieve a significant reduction of the LNA NF. In this presentation we will highlight the GaAs FET gate structural modifications needed to achieve the described NF reduction and reveal initial test results. 

To meet demanding performance requirements, particularly in the defence sector, gallium nitride (GaN) has emerged as a superior alternative to GaAs due to its greater power density, efficiency, and higher operating temperatures. Filtronic will showcase how GaN’s wide bandgap properties make it the ideal choice for applications where size, weight, and power (SWAP) are critical, such as in defence, space, and aerospace. Discover how these advantages position GaN as the optimal solution for high-performance needs.

In this presentation, we will demonstrate the technology capabilities of RF circuit design automation using the RapidRF software tool. We will show how state-of-the-art RFIC amplifier designs can be automatically generated with a simple push-button solution. Throughout the presentation we will demonstrate the entire design process, from entering the required circuit specifications, through performance validation, to creating final tapeout-ready design files.

Communications systems such as 5G, 6G, and Satcom as well as radar applications consistently rely on phased array systems. The growing complexity of the antenna array has a key impact on the system performance and overall cost. In this workshop, we cover best practices for accurate antenna characterization in the near and far field. Once the array is characterized, we will show how to use measurements to optimize and tune algorithms for calibration and correction in conjunction with beamforming architectures. We will demonstrate the use of AI techniques applied to antenna measurements to speed up the characterization and verification process.

This workshop profiles the implementation, configuration, and operation of a comprehensive stand-alone open-source 5G end-to-end testbed to enable 5G research, development, and prototyping. The testbed provides a 5G SA FR1 and FR3 platform based on the OAI software stack and the USRP radio, for use both over-the-air (OTA) and with coax cable, and includes the all the primary system components: the core network; the basestation (gNB); and three implementations of the handset (UE). We will discuss in detail the full procedure for building this testbed and highlight several practical use-cases and explore troubleshooting steps.

This session presents circuit techniques for radars and phased arrays, achieving good energy and area efficiency, wider bandwidth with improved detection range and resolution. A 1TX/4RX FMCW radar chipset exploits multi-band to achieve an angular resolution of 6deg. Baseband techniques are then presented, achieving 800MHz signal bandwidth for phase array and 7.5cm resolution for PMCW with good area and energy efficiency. Finally, two radars for vital-sign detection, with multi-mode IR-UWB radar achieving detection range up to 10m, and another combined FMCW and Doppler radar work with shared building blocks, achieving small chirp frequency error of 0.04%.

In this session, the generation of D-band signals using a tripler with adaptive biasing and a regenerative frequency shifter will be presented. For interfacing transmitter and receiver elements to a single antenna, the session will include a presentation on an integrated quasi circulator, based on a coupled-line coupler with tunable termination. The session will also present a compact PA for phased arrays to enable scaling of half-wavelength spaced array elements as well as a wideband PA that provides full D-band coverage by utilizing coupled-line-based matching networks.

This session explores cutting-edge techniques for designing high-performance receiver front-ends, focusing on achieving superior sensitivity, linearity, and blocker rejection while minimizing power consumption. The presented papers delve into novel architectures and circuit techniques, including passive filtering, mixer-first topologies, active feedback, and capacitive stacking, pushing the boundaries of receiver performance across various frequency bands.

Biomedical radar technology has the potential to transform patient monitoring and search and rescue applications. This session explores the state-of-the-art advances in high precision single and multiple subject detection and monitoring.

This session explores advanced antenna and surface technologies addressing key challenges in next-generation wireless communication, including energy efficiency, adaptability, and sensing-communication integration. The session includes a first paper for shape estimation and beam correction in flexible phased arrays, followed by a dual-polarized true-time-delay-based Reconfigurable Intelligent surface (RIS), chirp-based beamwidth control in RIS for mm-wave systems, and a multi-feed active antenna module achieving reconfigurable polarization. Additional presentations feature a 2-bit RIS enabling polarization-based sensing and communication, a liquid crystal-based RIS with energy-efficient bias pulse technology. Together, these innovations demonstrate transformative potential in reconfigurable systems for future wireless networks.

This session features the latest developments in the production of RF power at frequencies up to 1GHz. The session begins with a survey of transistors for production of 1kW or more of RF power. Next the session addresses operation over wide bandwidths with both ferrite-loaded baluns and continuous-mode operation of an amplifier. Techniques for driving switching-mode power amplifiers and for directly interfacing high-efficiency amplifiers to antennas are described. Finally, the session includes a comparison of EER and Doherty techniques for high-efficiency operation at VHF.

This session brings together four papers showcasing sub-THz and THz signal modulation techniques for next-generation communication systems. The first paper introduces attenuator-based vector modulation strategies for phased arrays operating from 200 to 480GHz. The second paper demonstrates a novel photoconductive solid-state plasma evanescent-mode waveguide for sub-THz phase shifting. The third paper presents a compact 8.2mW complementary current-reusing D-band frequency quadrupler implemented in 22nm FDSOI CMOS. Finally, the fourth paper compares wideband low-power H-band frequency doublers, with and without driving stages, also in 22nm FDSOI CMOS, highlighting performance trade-offs. These advances significantly elevate future sub-THz communications.

This session consists of 5 papers including the keynote paper "Efficiency Enhancements using Digital Predistortion and Advanced Transmitters". The remaining 4 papers address the challenges of linearization in emerging phased array systems, novel machine learning and DSP solutions to improve radio performance.

This session showcases cutting-edge innovations in satellite communication and remote sensing technologies, highlighting advances in antennas, phased arrays, and transceivers.

3D Heterogeneous Integration is becoming a trend in the RF/MW industry to integrate mixed technologies (Silicon RFICs, III-V MMICs, packaging, passives, antennas and PCBs) into convenient drop in RF modules to enable the exponential growth of RF applications for high throughput wireless data transport demanded by commercial and defense-aerospace AI/Machine Learning requirements.
This microapps paper illustrates how RF EDA tools are now enabling 3DHI physical assembly, 3D RF routing and connectivity verification, followed by EM-circuit co-simulation/co-optimization of any RF path through the 3DHI structure. Electrothermal simulation is also enabled to accurately predict 3DHI RF performance in actual field deployment scenarios.

Large phased array systems include multiple RF sampling data converters, which require high precision synchronization to achieve proper beam steering. Synchronization can be achieved by properly aligning the device clocks and phase adjustability of SYSREFs to the data converters for meeting setup and hold time. SYSREFs in large array system can be generated or distributed on tile level, sub-system level and from the host in continuous, pulsed or burst mode. This presentation proposes the JESD204B/C clock buffer-based solution for precise SYSREFs phase alignment and distribution for synchronization up to X-band sampling clocks.

Quantum systems require exceptional precision and fidelity in control and readout operations . As gate times in quantum systems reach the picosecond (pS) scale, the need for high-speed sequencing and accurate waveform generation becomes increasingly critical. This presentation explores the advantages of Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWGs) in addressing the stringent requirements of quantum calibration, control, and operation.
We will highlight the capabilities of Tektronix’s AWG70000 and AWG5200 series, emphasizing their ability to generate high-fidelity waveforms at pS rates and their integration with advanced oscilloscopes for comprehensive system calibration and monitoring. Key topics will include optimizing workflows for quantum operation.

Synchronizing systems with a high number of ADCs/DACs is very difficult. New features implemented in an analog PLL and a synchronizer IC can help synchronize such systems. The PLL can introduce delays on both device clock and SYSREF to compensate propagation delays, while the synchronizer measures and compensates the round-trip delays that may happen on one or two wire connections. The seminar presents how such a system may be architected using a tree or a cascade approach and how the synchronization may be achieved.